Notebook: UNH looks to bid adios to inconsistency

Friday

Mar 29, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Al Pikeapike@fosters.com

MANCHESTER – Following an inconsistent second half of the season that included an early exit from the Hockey East playoffs, the University of New Hampshire hockey team is treating tonight’s game against Denver like a fresh start.

After missing the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time in more than a decade, the Wildcats were determined to get off to a good start. However, they faded during the second half, winning just three of their last 13 games.

“At the beginning of the year we really wanted to make a statement nationally and in our league,” said senior forward John Henrion. “We came off a good start and got behind the eight ball in the second half. We feel this is a fresh beginning for us going into the (NCAA) tournament after getting bumped out of the (Hockey East) playoffs. It’s kind of like a second opportunity and we’re ready to take advantage of it.

“We feel good about our team,” said coach Dick Umile. “I like the team. I like the makeup. I think they competed hard and found ways not to win games. I don’t think it was from lack of effort.”

During one stretch toward the end of the regular season UNH had five ties in nine games. The Wildcats have eight one-goal losses this year and seven ties.

“I think we had difficulty scoring goals,” Umile said. “That was the biggest thing that happened to us. We fell behind in a lot of games. It seemed like were always fighting from behind. … We were inconsistent in the second half. We played some solid games but had a difficult time winning those.”

“We want to take it as far as we can go,” said junior forward Kevin Goumas, “but we’re not looking at it that way right now. We’re going to take it one game at a time. We’re just going to focus on playing Denver.”

Despite those second-half struggles, UNH is two wins away from the Frozen Four just like every other team in the tournament.

“We fell short last year,” said sophomore goalie Casey DeSmith. “We finally got that off our back. Getting in this year and having a chance to go somewhere is huge. It’s something I’ve always thought about. Hopefully we can make something of it.”

“It’s a huge goal for us,” Henrion said. “It’s a big opportunity to throw our names out there one last time and show the country what the University of New Hampshire is and what we want.”

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UNH could have as many as a dozen players in the lineup tonight who have never played in an NCAA Tournament game.

One of those players is DeSmith, who has experienced both ends of the spectrum this season from being pulled from games to posting three consecutive shutouts and four in five games.

“I told Casey ‘hey, they’ve forgotten about you in the second half so it’s a great opportunity to make a statement,” Umile said. “I’m sure he’s excited to do that.”

Senior captain Connor Hardowa said he wants to avoid “dumbing down the size of the game and the importance of it. Just make sure everybody knows what’s at stake. Everybody’s got to be ready to go from the first shift. You make one mistake and it could cost you the season.”

For the seniors, it could mean the end of their careers.

“We try not to put that in our head,” said senior forward Scott Pavelski. “Everybody knows it’s there. We weren’t even sure after our last game that we’d be in. We were thinking that might be our last game -- terrible feeling. We’re hoping to get a second life and play for the national championship.”

Junior defenseman Eric Knodel was a freshman on the 2011 squad that hosted the Northeast Regional at Verizon Wireless Arena. Although he redshirted the season, just being with the team helped prepare him for what he’s going through this weekend.

“Watching those games, the intensity was unbelievable,” he said. “Going into this weekend it helped being there and going through the process.”

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Two of Denver’s top four scorers are defensemen Joey LaLeggia and David Makowski, who have combined for 20 goals and 56 points.

However, UNH sophomore Trevor van Riemsdyk leads all defensemen in the Northeast Regional in scoring with 31 points on seven goals and 24 assists.

He was recently named first team all-Hockey East.

“He’s just taken it to another level,” Umile said. “He’s playing like a senior back there. There are a lot of good players and there are great players. He’s a great player.”

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It’s been quite a year for Denver assistant David Lassonde, a Rochester native and former longtime assistant at UNH.

He was the goalie coach for Team USA, which captured the gold medal at the World Juniors in Russia, and now has an opportunity to win a national championship by getting that quest started in his home state.

He plans to put any distractions aside.

“Once the game starts my focus will be on Denver,” he said, “and what I need to do to help our guys win.”